Head Trip Festival 2026 is bringing the biggest electronic music event the Coachella Valley has ever seen — right across the street from us at Empire Polo Club.

Head Trip takes over Empire Polo Club on October 10–11, 2026. Two days. One stage. No overlapping sets. A lineup stacked with Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, FISHER, Chris Lake, Peggy Gou, Four Tet, Dom Dolla, and more.

It’s billed as a one-time-only event. If you’re going, here’s everything you need to know — including where to stay so the festival actually feels like the vacation it should be.

What Is Head Trip Festival 2026?

Head Trip is a brand new two-day electronic music festival from Goldenvoice, the same team behind Coachella and Stagecoach. Unlike Coachella’s sprawling multi-stage format, Head Trip is built around a single stage with no overlapping sets — meaning you don’t have to choose between artists. Every set, you’re there.

Production is led by Romain Pissenem, the designer behind Ibiza megaclubs like Ushuaïa. Expect a serious visual experience to match the music.

Dates: Saturday, October 10 – Sunday, October 11, 2026

Times: 3:00 PM start each day

Venue: Empire Polo Club, 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio, CA 92201

Age: 18+

Tickets: headtripindio.com

Head Trip 2026 Lineup

Saturday, October 10

• Calvin Harris
• FISHER + Chris Lake (Under Construction)
• Peggy Gou b2b Four Tet
• Seth Troxler b2b Ben Sterling
• Floating Points’ Sunflower Sound System

Sunday, October 11

• Swedish House Mafia
• Skrillex
• Dom Dolla b2b KETTAMA
• The Blessed Madonna
• DJ Harvey

This is the kind of lineup that normally requires three different festivals in three different cities to see. Head Trip puts them all in one place, in the desert, for one weekend only.

Getting to Head Trip Festival

Empire Polo Club sits at 81-800 Avenue 51 in Indio, the same venue that hosts Coachella and Stagecoach every spring. October weather in the desert is the sweet spot — daytime highs in the mid-80s, evenings in the 60s. Bring layers.

Nearest airport: Palm Springs International (PSP) — about 25 minutes from the venue.

From LA: About 2 hours via I-10 East.

From San Diego: About 2.5 hours.

From Phoenix: About 4 hours.

Once you’re at the venue, parking and shuttle details will be released by Goldenvoice closer to the event — typically through the official Head Trip site and the festival app.

Where to Stay: Skip the Hotel Drive

Here’s what most people don’t realize about festivals at Empire Polo Club: the closer you stay, the better your weekend. Festival-goers staying in Palm Springs or La Quinta lose hours to traffic and rideshare surge pricing. The smart move is to stay walking or short-driving distance from the gates.

Indio Access is a 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom vacation home plus a private casita inside the gated Indian Palms Golf Resort — directly across the street from Empire Polo Club. Same street as the festival gates. No freeway, no traffic, no surge pricing.

Here’s why it works for Head Trip weekend:

• Across the street from Empire Polo Club — the festival is literally your neighbor
• Sleeps up to 12 — split the cost with your crew instead of booking three hotel rooms
• Private heated saltwater pool — recover between days
• Gated resort — safe parking, quiet at night, pickleball and golf on-site
• Full ADA accessibility — roll-in shower, grab bars, ramps at every entrance, single-level layout
• Pet friendly — bring the dog
• Full kitchen — eat real food, not $20 festival fries
• Hands-on hospitality from the owner — not a faceless property manager

For two days of festival, the math is simple: one house, twelve people, your own pool, walking distance to the gates. The hotel crowd is going to figure this out. Lock it in before they do.

Festival Bonus: Free Pool & Spa Heating That Weekend

October nights in the desert cool off fast — daytime highs in the mid-80s, but evenings drop into the low 60s. Most vacation rentals charge an extra $50–$100 per night to heat the pool and spa.

For Head Trip weekend, we’re including pool and spa heating at no extra cost.

Walk back from the festival, soak in a warm spa under the desert sky, swim under the string lights. It’s the kind of thing you’d pay $300 a night for at a hotel — and here it’s free.

A True Story From Coachella & Stagecoach 2026

During both Coachella and Stagecoach this year, the festivals had to pause unexpectedly due to strong winds. Tens of thousands of people were suddenly stuck — and Uber and Lyft surge pricing went through the roof. Some festival-goers couldn’t get a ride at all. Others waited hours.

Our guests? They walked home. Sat by the pool. Grabbed food from the kitchen. And when the festival resumed, they walked right back.

That’s not a hypothetical benefit. That’s what “across the street” actually means when things go sideways. No surge pricing, no waiting in a parking lot at 1 AM, no stress. Just a short walk back to your own house.

For a brand new festival like Head Trip, where logistics haven’t been tested, that kind of safety net matters.

How to Plan Your Head Trip Weekend

Friday (Oct 9): Arrive, settle in, swim. Dinner at Tack Room Tavern — it’s literally inside Empire Polo Club. Old-school steakhouse vibe, full bar, perfect for night one.

Saturday (Oct 10): Slow morning. Coffee on the patio, pool, big breakfast in the kitchen. Walk over to the festival by mid-afternoon. Calvin Harris closes the night.

Sunday (Oct 11): Brunch in Old Town La Quinta (10 minutes away). Pool. Walk back over for Swedish House Mafia and Skrillex closing out the festival.

Monday (Oct 12): Late checkout, one last swim, road back home.

Eight people splitting the house for three nights costs less per person than a single Palm Springs hotel room — and you don’t have to drive after the sets.

Book Direct, Skip the Fees

If you’re going to Head Trip Festival 2026, book direct at indioaccess.com. No Airbnb service fees, no VRBO markups. You’ll get faster responses, better rates, and direct contact with the owner all weekend.

October dates fill up fast for big polo grounds events — and this is the biggest electronic music event the venue has ever hosted.

👉 Check Head Trip weekend availability at indioaccess.com

FAQ

How close is Indio Access to Empire Polo Club?

Directly across the street — same block as the festival gates.

How many guests can stay?

Up to 12, across 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a detached casita with private bath.

Is the property wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Roll-in shower with chair, grab bars, widened doorways, ramps at all entries, single-level layout, and pool steps with handrails.

Are pets allowed?

Yes.

What about parking for the festival?

Festival parking will be released closer to the event by Goldenvoice. Many guests park at the house and walk to the venue.

When do Head Trip Festival 2026 tickets go on sale?

Tickets are on sale now at headtripindio.com.